Hindu Calendar

The date time keeping system of the Hindu Society dates back to thousands of years, much before the word “Calendar” even came into existence. It was predominantly known as “Panchang”. With every turn of the bifurcation of this religion, the original system changed as well. The calendar became more regional and hence now there is existence of more than one version of this epic notifier. Now the south Indian Tamil society more profusely use “Panchangam” as their primary Calendar whereas the North Indian Gujrati / Marwari Society use a different version of “Panchang”, which both are basically a modified version of the original Hindu Calendar.

Update March 2013: A very updated Android App has been released for people who are looking for correct and up to date Hindu Calendar Information. Click this link to get the app from the official Google Play Store.

Hindu Calendar History

“Lagadha” laid down the initial framing architecture of the primitive Calendar, from the Indian text Vedanga Jyotish. This text describes the motion tracking of the planets, the sun and the moon and combines them to procure the fruitful, highly accurate Hindu calendar. It has always been a matter of controversy of whether the Greeks were the one who invented the ancient astronomical conceptualization or the Indians were the one who already had this predominant knowledge but hid it from the masses and limited it to their highest level of priests and mathematicians. Let this not be discussed here for now.

The rigid yet intellectual Jyotishashastra, Langadha has its principles laid down on the basis of two Vedas. These are forty-five verse excerpt related to Yajur-Veda and thirty-six verses related to Rig-Veda.

With the wheel of time, many crucial modifications were carried out and hence it reformed the earlier ancient design to the modern Hindu calendar system. Notably standardization was carried out during Surya sidhant (III rd Century Common Era), passed onto for reformation from Aryabhata (499 Common Era) later Varaamihira around sixth century and finalized structure was prepared by Bhaskar during twelfth century. Whatever modification was done, the basic calculation settings still remained the same which still follows the transition of sun and other associated planets.

Overview of Hindu Calendar

The main aspect of Hindu calendar is founded by five “Angas”. These “Angas” lay the basic foundation for the birth of Hindu calendar. They are:

1. “Tithi” – Explained below
2. “Vaar” – English translation weekdays (Monday, Tuesday … Sunday)
3. “Nakshatra”: The Moon’s Position in the celestial ecliptic (There are 27 variance in total)
4. “Yog” or “Yoga” – The alignment of the Moon and Sun during Sunrise (There are 27 variance in total)
5. “Karana” – In simple words it is just half of “Tithi”

These Five “Angas” are called Panchangam which in Sanskrit means five (pancha). Complete explanation to these five angas is provided below:

TITHI

It can be termed as Vedic Hour glass but here the calculations are considered way ahead of nano seconds. It is more detailed and more specific than any other civilization has ever devised or seen. In terms of mathematics, it can be said as the longitudinal angle formed between Sun and Moon.
1 Tithi = time taken for the angle to step-up by twelve degrees (12°) between the sun and the moon. They start from variant time lines of the day and can differ as 19 to 26 hours approximately.
The Naming system of the 30 different tithes is stated below:

Sl No

Paksha

Ruling Deity

Suitable Works and Ceremonies

Shukla Paksha(Shining FortNight)

Krishna Paksha(Fading FortNight)

1

Pratipad

Pratipad

Agni

This time is good for all types for ceremonies.

2

Dvitiyah

Dvitiyah

Brahma

Lay foundations for long term engagements.

3

Tritiyah

Tritiyah

Gauri

Cutting Hair, Manicures and Pedicures.

4

Chaturthi

Chaturthi

Ganesh

Take down enemies and remove obstacles.

5

Panchami

Panchami

Naag

Medicine & Surgererical engagements

6

Shashthi

Shashthi

Kartik

Socializing and making merry

7

Saptami

Saptami

Surya

Start journey or Buying New vehicles

8

Asthami

Asthami

Rudra

Buying Arms and building Defense

9

Navami

Navami

Ambika

Killing Enemies and Destructing Anything

10

Dashami

Dashami

Dharmraaj

Religious Functions and Spiritual lounge

11

Ekadashi

Ekadashi

Rudra

Best time for fasting and paying tributes

12

Dvadashi

Dvadashi

Vishnu

Best time for carrying out yagyas and bhajans

13

Treyodashi

Treyodashi

kaamDev

Friendship and sensual pleasures

14

Chaturdashi

Chaturdashi

Kaali

Alchemy and poison and spirit call

15

Poornima(The Full Moon)

Amavashya(The New Moon)

Moon // Pitru

Fire Sacrifices // Repent wrongdoings by offering peace and apologies

VAAR

“Vaar” or “Vaasara” signifies the different days in the week. The greatest irony of the names is that, they resemble drastically similar in pronunciation with respect to many other cultures across the globe.

Sl No

Sanskrit Name

Solar System

Body

Related to:

English / Sanskrit

Names of the days

English

Latin

1

Somvaar

Moon / Shom

Monday

Dies

Lunae

2

Magalvaar

Mars / Mangal

Tuesday

Dies

Martis

3

Budhvaar

Mercury / Budh

Wednesday

Dies

Mercurii

4

Brishaspativaar

Jupiter / Guru

Thursday

Dies

Lovis

5

Shukravaar

Venus / Shukra

Friday

Dies

Vaneris

6

Shanivaar

Saturn / Shani

Saturday

Dies

Saturnis

7

Ravivaar

Sun /Ravi

Sunday

Dies

Solic

NAKSHATRA

Before you start with Nakshatra, you should know what Asterism is. Asterism is the pattern of stars visible in the night sky. It may comprise of one or more constellations or may be a combination of stars bundled together to form a distinctive pattern. So now we can say that there are 27 Nakshatra that comprises the Ecliptic. Theses are calculated as moon circles against a fixed star [….which is 27 days 7.75 hours]. These calculations are mentioned profusely in Rig-Veda and they are very advanced in compare to what we know now, with Modern Day Science.

The Eclectic is divided into 27 Nakshatra moving on from east to west in the sky. The Nakshatra can be a single start or a collection of stars. To be more specific these are lines quoted from internet open site:

Source: Internet Free Search

After great effort, the following information has been put together for your complete reference of Nakshatra and their symbol, deity, Sanskrit Names and Niche Zodiac Division of both Indian and western systems.

Sl No

Sanskrit

Name

Deity

Name

Symbol

Presiding

Lord

RaashiZodiacDivision( Indian System )

Zodiac Degree of Occupancy

For Each Nakshatra

RaashiZodiacDivision( Western System )

Indian

Western

From

Till

From

Till

1

Ashvini

Aswins

Horse head

Ketu

Mesh

0°

13°20′

26°

9°20′

Aries / Taurus

2

Bharani

Yamraaj

Shukra

Mesh

13° 20’

26°40′

9°20′

22° 40′

Taurus

3

Krittika

Agni

Knife/ Spear

Ravi

Mesh / Vrishabh

26°40′

10°

22° 40′

6°

Taurus / Gemini

4

Rohini

Brahma

Temple

Chandra

Vrishabh

10°

23°20′

6°

19°20′

Gemini

5

Mrigashirsha

Chandra

Head of Dear

Mangal

Vrishabh / Mithuna

23° 20′

6° 40′

19°20′

2°40′

Gemini / Cancer

6

Aardra

Rudra

Head of human

Rahu

Mithuna

6° 40′

20°

2° 40′

16°

Cancer

7

Punarvasu

Aditi

Quiver & Bow

Brihaspati

Mithuna / karka

20°

3°20′

16°

29°20′

Cancer

8

Pushya

Brihaspati

Lotus

Shani

karka

3°20′

16°40′

29°20′

12°40′

Cancer / Leo

9

Ashlesha

Sarpa

A Serpent

Budh

karka

16°40′

30°

12°40′

26°

Leo

10

Magha

Pitri

Throne

Ketu

Simha

0°

13°20′

26°

9°20′

Leo / Virgo

11

Purva Falguni

Shiva

Four Bed legs

Shukra

Simha

13° 20’

26°40′

9°20′

22° 40′

Virgo

12

Uttar Falguni

Aryaman

Four Bed legs

Ravi

Simha / Kanya

26°40′

10°

22° 40′

6°

Virgo / Libra

13

Hasta

Surya

Hand

Chandra

Kanya

10°

23°20′

6°

19°20′

Libra

14

Chitra

Vishwakarma

Pearl

Mangal

Kanya / Tula

23° 20′

6° 40′

19°20′

2°40′

Libra / Scorpio

15

Swati

Vaayu

Coral

Rahu

Tula

6° 40′

20°

2° 40′

16°

Scorpio

16

Vishakha

Indra

Wheel of Potter

Brihaspati

Tula/ Vrishchik

20°

3°20′

16°

29°20′

Scorpio

17

Anuradha

Mitra

Lotus

Shani

Vrishchik

3°20′

16°40′

29°20′

12°40′

Scorpio / Sagittarius

18

Jyestha

Indra

Umbrella

Budh

Vrishchik

16°40′

30°

12°40′

26°

Sagittarius

19

Moola

Nirriti

Roots clinched together

Ketu

Dhanu

0°

13°20′

26°

9°20′

Sagittarius / Capricorn

20

Purva Ashadha

Varun

Tusk of an Elephant

Shukra

Dhanu

13° 20’

26°40′

9°20′

22° 40′

Capricorn

21

Uttara Ashadha

ViswaDevas

Tusk of an Elephant

Ravi

Dhanu / Makara

26°40′

10°

22° 40′

6°

Capricorn / Aquarius

22

Shravana

Vishnu

Human Ear

Chandra

Makara

10°

23°20′

6°

19°20′

Aquarius

23

Dhanistha

Vaasus

Drum / Flute

Mangal

Makara / Kumbha

23° 20′

6° 40′

19°20′

2°40′

Aquarius / Pisces

24

Shatabhisha

Varun

Blank Circle

Rahu

Kumbha

6° 40′

20°

2° 40′

16°

Pisces

25

Purva Bhadrapda

Ajikapada

Man with Dual Face

Brihaspati

Kumbha / Meena

20°

3°20′

16°

29°20′

Pisces

26

Uttara Bhadrapada

Ahirbudhyana

Twins

Shani

Meena

3°20′

16°40′

29°20′

12°40′

Pisces / Aries

27

Revathi

Pushan

Pair of Fish

Budh

Meena

16°40′

30°

12°40′

26°

Aries

Complete detailed information about Nakshatra is available here.

YOG OR YOGA

“Yog” and “Yoga” should not be confused with “Meditation Yoga”. The later one means Exercise and the previous one means conjunction or relationship with respect to each other. This is calculated by considering the “Mesh” / “Aries” to be the starting points of the eclectic and thereby it is considered as the longitude of that object. Also the longitude of both the Sun and the Moon is added after normalization to the above said (Zero to 360 degree). This total sum is thereby divided into 27 segments which individually accounts for 800′ m each (where ‘ means “arcminute” and is precisely one sixty part of a degree). These Segments are known as “Yog”or “Yoga”. They are listed in alphabetical order below:

Atiganda

Aayushmaan

Brahma

Dhriti

Dhruva

Ganda

Harshana

Mahendra

Parigha

Preeti

Saadhya

Saubhaagya

Shobhana

Shiva

Shubha

Shukla

Siddha

Siddhi

Sukarman

Shoola

Vaidhriti

Vajra

Varigha

Vishkumbha

Vriddhi

Vyaaghata

Vyatipaata

There may be little or very minor differences during the transition from one Yog to another but apart from that it’s effective during the dawn and is known as the “Yog” for that day.

KARANA

In Simple words this is just half of “Tithi”. It is the total amount of time take by the sun to make an angular distance of 6 degrees from the moon in the ascending steps. Since there are thirty “tithis” a simple assumption would be that there should be sixty karans, but they are not.
In total there are eleven (11) karanas out of which four (4) are fixed and seven (7) are repeating. There names are mentioned below:

Fixed Karans:

Catushpada

Kinstughna

Nagava

Shakuni

Repeating Karans:

Balava

Bhaava

Bhadra

Garajaa

Kaulava

Taitula

Vaanijya

The Initial first half segment of the first Tithi is always kimstughana karan and is fixed. The repeating seven karanas iterate a total of eight times after kimstughana and hence cover up a total of fifty six (8 x 7) half Tithi. Now there are total three half tithis remaining and these occurrences are divided under the remaining three karanas respectively, which are fixed as well.
Here as well the Karana of the day is the one which is active during the dawn.

Hindu Calendar Names of Month

The complete skeleton of the calendar system is very complex and would have been very hard for an average person to remember. So for the ease of understanding the total year is divided into twelve months. They start from the new moon day to the next simultaneous new moon occurrence. The names are:

Chaitra

Baisakh

Jyestha

Aashardha

Shrawan

Bhadra

Aashwin

Kaartik

Maarghshish

Paush

Maagh

Faalgun

Again these 30/31 days (Though here the number of days in here is not always fixed) are divided into two parts. The first half is the Rise of the moon to the Full moon day (Also called Poornima) and the second half is the decline of the shine to the No moon day (Also called Amavashya). The names of the “tithis” and their significance are mentioned above.

Though many variants and different versions of this calendar have evolved since the last few eras, the main calculation and signification of these days are still all the same. The regional calendars may have some additional input of the regional festivals and add-on dates now but they still follow the ancestral calendar for all rituals starting from the day of birth of a child till the death bed he/she begets.